Explain why some people have ethical objections to the use of embryonic stem cells in medical research.

Eduqas GCSE Biology — 2.2.2 Stem cells · Explain · 4 marks · View as Markdown

Written & reviewed by James Millett — Biology (Imperial College London), PGCE Science (University of Cambridge).

Scientists can extract stem cells from human embryos that are a few days old. These stem cells can potentially be used to treat a range of diseases.

Model answer (4 marks)

Embryonic stem cells are taken from embryos that are only a few days old, and the extraction process destroys the embryo. Some people believe that an embryo is a living human being and therefore has a right to life. Others hold that life begins at fertilisation, so the embryo is a human life from the moment of conception. Consequently, destroying the embryo is seen as taking a human life and is morally unacceptable to them.

Examiner tips

Use the phrase "embryo is destroyed" to show the extraction step; mention "right to life" and "life begins at fertilisation"; link these to the moral objection; keep answer concise and use exact terminology.
Show the causal chain: extraction → destruction → moral objection; use the word "moral" or "ethical" to match the question.

Common mistakes

Failing to mention that the embryo is destroyed during extraction; using vague terms like "human tissue" instead of "embryo"; not linking the belief that life begins at fertilisation to the moral objection.

Mark scheme (4 marks)

Embryos are destroyed / killed during the extraction process
Some people believe the embryo is a living human being / has the right to life
Some people believe life begins at fertilisation / from the moment of conception
Therefore destroying the embryo is seen as taking a human life / is morally unacceptable to some people

Key terms in this question

embryonic stem cells · embryo · ethical objections